There’s a ton of information on the subject of publishing books. Through all the rhetoric, articles and blogs, the question is still: how to sell more books? In my opinion there are three very important considerations—price, package and distribution.

Cover prices on all books (both hardcover and paper) are set for one very distinct reason: to generate billing in a time when single copy sales are declining. Higher cover prices make up for the sin of paying undeserving authors higher-than- necessary advances. For those who are in control of their own destiny and publish themselves, there is no reason why your book should be priced higher than those you find in bookstores. If your publisher is forcing these higher prices on your book then you need to find another publisher.

For all the faults of the big New York publishers the one thing they get right is packaging. They understand how to effectively package a book. Covers and copy are paramount to selling books. Get it wrong and your book could fail in the marketplace, regardless of how great the writing and story. If your book does not fit in with all other categories of books you find in bookstores, then refocus your attention to how to properly package your book.

Finally, the best price and package means absolutely nothing if you do not have a professional sales force presenting, selling and distributing your book to the market. Sorry, but without distribution, you will not get the exposure or sales you need to generate the kind of attention your book requires to gain traction—defined as having the ability to backlist and reorder on a continual basis.

It’s really simple…write a great story, price according to the market, package with distinction yet fit into a specific category or genre, and get a professional sales force to sell and distribute your book. These are the keys to improving your chances of selling more books.